Red Wings' Abdelkader has hearing for Game 3 hit

DETROIT -- Detroit winger Justin Abdelkader will have a telephone hearing with the NHL on Sunday to determine if supplementary discipline is warranted for his questionable hit on Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman in Game 3 of their Western Conference playoff series.

Abdelkader's hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT. The Red Wings forward has never been suspended in his six-year NHL career.

Abdelkader was assessed a five-minute major penalty for charging and a game misconduct as a result of a hit to Lydman in the offensive zone. Replays appeared to show the winger's shoulder making initial contact with Lydman's head.

"Obviously he’s a physical guy," Babcock said. "He was taking the body hard. His shoulder hit his shoulder and the kid went down hard. They called it a major. Now I’m not involved in the next part of the process.

"He's a big guy. He hit him hard."

The Ducks got a goal by Nick Bonino on the resulting power play and went on to a 4-0 victory Saturday night. Game 4 is Monday night at Joe Louis Arena.

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